GB Surfing Head Coach, Luke Dillon, explains a little more about GB Surfing and specifically how he and the team will help develop Britain’s leading young surfers through the Progression Squad.
I have only been at GB Surfing for a couple of months, and the progress we have made in that time has been incredible, but to get to this point, there has been a lot of hard work and commitment going on behind the scenes for a number of years. It means we’re now in a position to really push forward and start implementing our strategy, with a huge step being the launch of the Progression Squad next month.
GB Surfing’s aim is to produce podium competitive surfers by the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, and to do that we have designed, and are continuing to adapt and adjust, a performance plan that will help enhance the development of technically better young surfers and prepare them for international competition.
In line with our funding, we have created a programme for four to six young male and female athletes, who will become our Progression Squad. We published the Selection Criteria for the squad in early July and will be holding a selection meeting in the first week of October.
The surfers selected will A) meet the criteria, but also, B) show potential to be future Olympians. It is worth reiterating that this is not a squad being put together for overnight success, but one that we believe, with the right training, provisions, and support, can compete in, and ultimately win medals, at future Olympic Games.
The Progression Squad will be given a year-round development programme that will include access to top-level coaching, kit, facilities, and training camps, as well as medical support, physiotherapy and help with funding competition entries.
This year, the squad will have two Portugal training camps, one in November and one in December. They will then head out to the Gold Coast in Australia for a month in January. We will draft in additional high-profile coaches for parts of each camp, and the surfer’s nutrition, recovery and S&C will be covered and monitored. There are also plans for world class equipment to be added for the athletes whilst out in Australia.
We eventually plan to set up a European base, which as well as holding regular training camps, will be available for squad members to come and go as they please for individual training. This is a little further down the line, but we believe it will be an important investment in order to give our athletes regular access to top quality, competition level surf away from the U.K.
As a Progression Squad member, you will be given access to the best equipment, including a number of boards and we are currently working with a couple of leading suppliers. Performance and training kit will also be taken care of, as will physiotherapy, meals, transport and accommodation on training camps, and physical and psychological medical testing and support throughout the year.
The Progression Squad is a huge part of our strategy, and one that we have been working on closely with our funding body – UK Sport – to maximise. The National Lottery grant, supplied through UK Sport, is provided to deliver Olympic success which is why the Progression Squad is only for shortboard and only for a limited number of athletes. However, any young surfer not named in the squad in October won’t be forgotten about. Every year, Progression Squad athletes will have to continue to hit the selection criteria and be showing signs of development. If they are not, and other surfers are knocking on the door with impressive results, we will change things around.
We are stoked at this massive opportunity we can offer and part of me is gutted this wasn’t happening when I was younger. I am however incredibly excited to be part of the team as Head Coach and I can’t wait to start working with the squad early next month.